Automatic ventilator closing device



Dec. 24, 1963 H. E. MACHAMER 3,115,224

AUTOMATIC VENTILATOR CLOSING DEVICE Filed Dec. 26, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. y 24, 1963 I H. E. MAcHAMl-:R 3,115,224

AUTOMATIC VENIILAIOR CLOSING DEVICE Filed DeG. 26, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ITU/afar roarffwaoarrzer United States Patent O 3,115,224 AUEMAJI'HC VENl'lLA l'QR (LOSllNG DEVCE Hobart E. Machamer, @als Park, lll., assigner to Ceco Steel Products Corporation, Chicago, lill., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 26, Hol, Ser. No. 16115 13 Claims. (Cl. 189-7l) The present invention relates to a ventilator or window closing device and more particularly to such a device for automatically and positively closing a lot line Ventilating window for effectively protecting ag-ainst combustion occurring adjacent to such a ventilator of a building.

Such ventilator assembly consists of a fixed metal frame with a metal ventilator sWingably or pivotally mounted and retained `opened for ventilation purposes, and the present invention is intended to provide means for positively closing the Ventilating portion of the window should a lire occur on adjacent property to thus prevent danger from combustion through the open ventilator. To prevent such danger, the present novel assembly provides a device to close the ventilator automatically when the temperature thereat reaches a predetermined level.

Among the objects of the present invention is the provision of a novel tensioning means so constructed and arranged and of sufficient strength to overcome the holding effort `applied to a projected or pivoted 'ventilator to force the ventilator shut and hold it in closed position whenever it is subjected to an elevated temperature.

Such means embodies -a contractile spring held under tension and positively and automatically released when the ambient temperature at the open ventilator reaches a predetermined value.

Anothe-r object of the present invention is the provision in the novel ventilator closing means of a fusible link which separates when the temperature rises to the melting point of the fusible portion of the link. One end of the link is connected to the base channel or frame of the window and the opposite end has an eyelet or loop which is engaged by a hooked end of the spring placed under tension. The opposite end of the spr-ing is anchored 4to the base channel or frame of the window in spaced relation to the link.

ln-the novel embodiment, the replaceable fusible link retains a spring under tension until affected by the elevatcd temperature to which it is subjected. Subsequently, a new link may be easily attached to the spring and the window frame to again place and retain the spring undertension and reset the automatic closing device.

The present invention further comprchends the provision of a second relatively light spring within the first spring connected to the ventilator frame through a length of cable. This second spring is of insuilicient strength to close or slam the ventilator shut, but is principally utilis-:edto keep the cable taut. The cable is of such a length that when the ventilator is opened a prescribed amount, an eyelet on the inner end of the cable abuts and is stopped by the reduced spiral end of the larger spring under tension.

The present invention also comprehcnds the provision of latch means on the lower rail or sill of the ventilator adapted to engage a strike on the sill or meeting rail of the encompassing stationary lframe to lock the ventilator when it is slammed shut by the closing device. However, the tensioned contractile spring is of such strength as to effectively retain the ventilator closed without the aid of additional locking means.

Further objects -are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity, eiliciency, economy and ease of assembly and operation, and such further objects, advan- 3,115,224 Patented Dec. 24, 1963 rice i?. tages and capabilities as Will later more fully appear and are inherently possessed thereby.

in the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View of a typical installation of the automatic closing device attached to a ventilator and its frame, the View being taken from the outside of the window.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross-sec tion-al view taken on the line 2*2 of FIG. 5 and showing the lower rail or sill of the ventilator and the frame sill or meeting rail with the ventilator in open position.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of FIG. 4 Iand showing the ventilator in closed position.

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on the line 1l- 4l of FIG. 3 and showing the interior of the closing device and the position of the springs when the ventilator is closed, the cover therefor having been removed.

FlG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of FiG. 2 and viewed in the direction of the arrows showing the position of the springs when the ventilator is open.

FlG. 6 is a fragmentary horizontal cross-sectional view showing the component parts of the closing device at one end thereof including the fusible link and its operative position in the device.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the closing device with a portion of the cover broken away `and showing the device when the fusible link has separated and the Ventilating window has been forced or slammed shut.

Referring to the disclosure in the drawings wherein is shown a novel illustrative embodiment of the present -automatic ventilator closing device, FIG. l discloses a ventilator lll pivotally mounted within a stationary frame .l1 where the ventilator is pivoted adjacent the top of the frame and has supporting bars l2 aiding in positioning the ventilator in open position. An automatic closing devices-13? is shown secured to the sill or meeting rail 14 of the wind-ow frame ll and connected to the Ventilator l@ through a cable l5, preferably formed of stainless steel, and of such a length that the ventilator l@ may be opened and retained open a prescribed amount, for example, an opening of approximately four inches.

The cable l5 terminates in each end in an eyelet 16 having a shank portion 17 which is clinched to the cable. An L-shaped pin 1.8` is suitably oilixed or screwed into the bottom rail of the ventilato-r 'lil (FIGS. 2 and 3) and one eyelet lr6 is slipped over the pin. The opposite eyelet 16 is connected to the hooked end i9 of a relatively light spring 2l; the opposite end of the spring 2l having a hooked end 22 connected to the base 23 of the closing device 13 through an anchoring projection or tab 24 formed in the base 23.

The base 23 is secured to the sill, meeting rail or base channel ld of the window frame 1l by a pair of screws or other suitable attaching means 25. A spindle 26 is rotatably mounted on one of the attaching screws 2S with the spindle acting `as a guide for and over which the cable l5 passes. The cable normally remains attached to the ventilator lo although one end thereof may be manually removed from the -pin 1S permitting opening the ventilator a yfull washing lthe outside of the transparency from within the building.

A larger and stronger contractile spring 27, designed to assure forcing tor slamming the window shut, has one end formed into 'a hook 28 which is also secured to the anchoring projection or tab 24. The opposite hooked end 29 ofthe spring 27 is attached to one end of a heat fusible and separable link 3l by means 4of an eyelet 32 for-med in the link. The opposite cnd of the link isalso formed as an eyelet which -is hooked over a second anchoring projection or tab 34 formed in the base 23 `of the closing device 1T. The link 3l is formed of separablesections 35, 35a which are held together by interlocking tabs 36 of metal that melts at a relatively low temperature, eig. approximately 160 F. A removable cover 37 for the closing device 13 is snapped into piace upon the base 23. This cover has `openings 33 (FIG. 7) which expose the fusible link 3l.

ln operation, the cable le and its connected spring 2l `rnove Within the larger contractile spring 27 which is lfplaced under tension by connecting the link 3l tto the @ab 34 (see FIGS. 4, 5 and 6). The smaller spring Ztl 'does not have suicient strength to retract the ventilator when open. FIG. 4 shows the relative positions of the cable and the two ysprings 2l and 27 with the ventilator l@ closed. When the ventilator l@ is opened (F'IGS. 2 yand 5), the cable l5 which passes over the spindle 26 extends the spring 2l until the eyelet 16 abuts the adjacent reduced end coil of the larger spring 27, 'f

thus limiting the extent of opening movement of the ventilator l0 (see FIGS. 5 and 6). The spring 2l is used principally to keep the cable 15 taut.

lf the ambient temperature adjacent the window rises to approximately 2160* F., due to combustion, the yfusible link .il separates into the two sections 35, a releasing the larger spring 27, and the contractile spring 27 retracts carrying with it the eyelet 16 and the cable 15 to `force or slam the ventilator shut. While the spring 27 will exert sulicient force to hold the ventilator tightly closed, i a conventional cam action type locking handle 39 (FIG. 2) may be used in iconjunction with `a strike 4l on the ibase or `meeting rail 14 of the window frame lll, or a "conventional spring latch 42 (FIG. 3) may be utilized for this purpose. It is obvious that the positioning of the automatic clos- .ing device 13 can be reversed and mounted upon the frame of the pivoted ventilator 10 with the cable 15 extending from the closing device connected by suitable means to the stationary Window frame 11, and such arrangement is contemplated |by the present invention and claims.

Having thus disclosed the invention, I claim:

l l. An automatic closing device for a Ventilating window including a stationary frame and a ventilator swingably mounted in said lframe, comprising a cable con nected iat one end to the ventilator, a relatively light contraotile spring connected at yone end to said cable and at its other end anchored to the frame, a relatively heavy contractile spring anchored at one end to said frame, a ifusible link anchored at one end to said frame and at its other end connected to the other end of said relatively heavy contractile spring, said relatively light and heavy contractile springs being so constructed and arranged that when ysaid ffusible link is subjected to lan elevated ternperatnre the parts of said link separate and release one end of the relatively heavy contractile spring to release the tension on the latter whereupon the relatively light contractile spring and its connected cable are retracted to yforcibly close the ventilator.

2. An automatic closing `device as set forth in claim 1, in which the relatively heavy contractile spring is held under tension and the relatively light contractile spring is placed under tension when the ventilator is opened.

3. An automatic closing device as set forth in claim 1, in which the relatively heavy contractile spring is held under tension and the relatively light contractile spring is placed under tension when the ventilator is opened, the relatively light contractile spring being arranged within the relatively heavy contractile spring and the latter limits the extension of the lighter spring.

4. An automatic closing device for a Ventilating window assembly including relatively movable members one of which is a stationary iframe anc'l the other a ventilator swingably mounted in said fram-ie, comprising a cable i connected at one end to one of said members, a relatively light contractile spring connected at `one end to said cable and at its other end anchored to the other of said members, a relatively heavy contractile `spring anchored at one end to the other oi said members, a fusible link anchored at one end to said other member and at its other end connected to the other end of said relatively heavy contractile spring, said relatively light and heavy contractile springs being so constructed and arranged :that when said fusible link is subjected to an elevated temperature the parts of said link separate and release one end oi the relatively heavy contractile spring to release the tension on the latter whereupon the relatively light contractile spring land its connected cable are retracted to forcibly close the ventilator.

5. Means rfor positively and automatically closing a Ventilating window member swingably mounted in a stationary frame member, comprising a closing device including a base mounted on one of said members, a pair of lcontractile springs `each having one end aixed to said base, one of said contractile springs beingrelatively :ht and connected at its other end to the other member and placed under tension when the ventilator is opened, said other contractile spring being relatively heavy, a separable usible link anchored at one end to said base and connected at its other end to the other end of said relatively heavy contraotile spning and retaining said last mentioned spring under tension until said fusible link separates when subjected to an elevated temperature, Whereupon said last mentioned spring automatically closes said Ventilating window member.

6. Means for positively and automatically closing a Ventilating window member swingably mounted in a stationary frame member as set forth in claim 5, in which said closing device is mounted on the meeting rail of said stationary frame member and a cable connects the relatively light contractile spring to the Ventilating member.

7. Means for positively and automatically closing a Ventilating window member swingably mounted in a stationary frame member as set forth in claim 5, in which said closing device is mounted on the meeting rail of said stationary frame member and a cable connects the relatively light contractile spring to the Ventilating member, said relatively light contractile spring being enclosed within the relatively heavy contractile spring and when the fusible link is separated, the latter spring contracts and carries therewith the lighter Spring and forcibly closes the Ventilating member.

8. An automatic closing device for a window including a stationary frame and a ventilator swingably mounted in the frame, comprising a base for the closing device secured to the frame, a spindle mounted adjacent one end of the base, a cable passing over the spindle and terminating at each end in an eyelet, one eyelet attached to the ventilator, a spring attached at one end to the other eyelet on the cable and its other end to said base, a second relatively stronger spring encompassing the rst mentioned spring and the last mentioned eyelet on said cable secured at one end to said base, a fusible link separable into two portions and connected at one end to said base adjacent said spindle, and the free end of said stronger spring being connected to the opposite end of said link, said link adapted to separate and release said stronger spring to retract said ventilator when the ambient temperature reaches a predetermined level.

9. An automatic closing device for a Ventilating window having a fixed trame and a pivoted ventilator adapted to swing out, comprising a support affixed to said frame, a cable detachably Connected at one end to said ventilator, a contractile spring connected at one end to the opposite end of said cable and the other end of the spring attached to the support, said spring retaining the cable taut but not of sufficient strength to retract said ventilator, heat separable means connected at one end to the support, and a relatively strong spring normally extended under tension and connected to said heat separable means and the opposite end of said support, said cable and attached spring passing through said relatively strong spring such that when said heat separable means separates at a predetermined temperature said relatively strong spring retracts carrying the cable therewith to forcibly close the ventilator.

lt). An automatic closing device for a Ventilating window having a fixed frame and a ventilator swingably mounted in said frame, comprising heat separable means anchored at one end to the frame, an anchoring projection spaced from said heat separable means on said frame, a relatively strong spring under tension and eX- tending between said heat separable means and said anchoring projection, a cable connected at one end to the ventilator and resiliently connected at its opposite end to said anchoring projection, one end of said cable passing through said spring, and an eyelet on the end of said cable coacting with said spring to limit movement of said cable and opening of said ventilator, said heat separable means when subjected to an elevated temperature releasing said spring to rapidly and positively close said ventilator.

1l. An automatic closing device for a ventilator pivotally mounted in a fixed frame, comprising heat releasable means attached at one end to the ventilator frame adjacent one end thereof, relativeiy strong resilient means tensioned between said releasable means and an anchoring projection on the opposite end of said frame, and a cable connected at one end to the ventiiator and at the other end connected to one end of a contractile spring with the other end of the spring connected to said opposite end of said frame permitting limited opening of the ventilator under tension, said cable having an eyelet located within and engaged by said resilient means whereupon said releasable means releases said resilient means 6 when subjected to an elevated temperature to retract said cable and forcibly close the ventilator.

l2. An automatic closing device for a ventilator pivotally mounted in a stationary frame, comprising fusible means secured at one end adjacent one end of the ventilator frame, a contractile spring connected to the other end of said fusible means and to the opposite end of the frame, said spring normally being under tension until released when said fusible means is subjected to heat at an elevated temperature, a cable movable through and relative to said spring and resiliently connected between the opposite end of the frame and the ventilator, and means on said cable coacting With an end of said spring to limit movement of said cable in opening of the ventilator and to positively retract said cable and ventilator when said fusible means releases said spring.

13. An automatic closing device for a ventilator swingably mounted in a frame, comprising a separable, fusible link attached at one end to the frame, a relatively strong contractile spring connected at one end to said fusible link and at its other end to the frame and thereby held under tension, a cable resiliently mounted at one end to the frame and extending through said spring and connected at its opposite end to the lower rail of the ventilator, guide means adjacent said fusible link for said cable, and an enlarged portion on said cable Within said spring for limiting travel of said cable and the extent of opening the ventilator and retracting the cable when the spring is released upon separation of the fusible link when subjected to an elevated temperature.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,535,368 Norcross Dec. 26, 1950 

12. AN AUTOMATIC CLOSING DEVICE FOR A VENTILATOR PIVOTALLY MOUNTED IN A STATIONARY FRAME, COMPRISING FUSIBLE MEANS SECURED AT ONE END ADJACENT ONE END OF THE VENTILATOR FRAME, A CONTRACTILE SPRING CONNECTED TO THE OTHER END OF SAID FUSIBLE MEANS AND TO THE OPPOSITE END OF THE FRAME, SAID SPRING NORMALLY BEING UNDER TENSION UNTIL RELEASED WHEN SAID FUSIBLE MEANS IS SUBJECTED TO HEAT AT AN ELEVATED TEMPERATURE, A CABLE MOVABLE THROUGH AND RELATIVE TO SAID SPRING AND RESILIENTLY CONNECTED BETWEEN THE OPPOSITE END OF THE FRAME AND THE VENTILATOR, AND MEANS ON SAID CABLE COACTING WITH AN END OF SAID SPRING TO LIMIT MOVEMENT OF SAID CABLE IN OPEINING OF THE VENTI- 